Thats a very fair point, but we give all sorts of sub sections within the Naval community a chance to talk about their own specialist area - who could forget the ATC discussion.... The fact that gays are welcome to take part in RR reflects the makeup of the RN and that is good.

What I am saying is that I don't particularily care for public fora such as Lil's, CA etc to become clogged up with esoteric threads, whatever the topic.

Why? everybody is going on about equality - so if they want to be equal (and legal) the obvious answer is..........answers please on a crisp new Â£20 to the walrus beer fund in the Standard, Torpoint of which some of you may know!

It's an interesting idea Slim, but the real problem at the moment is that several RR members who are not yet "out" here (for understandable reasons) would probably feel unable to use it. It would simply be a forum for those of us robust enough here to be "out" about our sexuality and able to take the flak, to chat. What would be of more help to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender) naval personnel and potential recruits would be having a closed forum where, say, a gay RR'er could PM the forum's Moderator(s) and seek permission to join the forum. Although not entirely fool proof of course, it would allow LGBT members to raise topics they are too afraid to raise elsewhere on the site and allow gay members and perhaps one of two other, trustworthy members who will protect gay members' confidentiality and provide positive input (like Nutty for example) to assist.

I am personally only aware of other male gay members on RR too anxious to be open! I hope that in time that situation will change.

In the longer term It would be nice to have a Diversity Forum - where issues such as religious belief, humanism (or otherwise) at sea, could be raised. I am concerned that Muslims get a lot of stick here - not very encouraging for potential recruits! Within the Diversity Forum we could have separate gay and straight discussion threads. The Mods would have a duty to moderate this forum a la the QD - removing anything offensive - the purpose being to act as a space for informed discussion and queries to be raised, rather than abuse potentially hurled at members of particular threads by disrespectful others.